Artorias
This is a dilapidated arena, weathered by countless years, now teetering on the brink of collapse.
Da Er had expected to see a person lying on the ground, barely alive, but...
"Huh?"
An ugly abyssal monster stood there, and upon seeing him, it let out a puzzled cry.
"A monster?" Da Er's eyes widened in surprise. He looked around but couldn't find any normal people.
Where is the person who was speaking? His voice sounded very weak; he couldn't have gone too far.
Could it be that the monster in front of us has mutated so quickly?
The abyss is terrifying.
"I'll send you to your release." He raised the Farron Greatsword, ready to send the other man on his way.
He knew that these monsters were infected by the residents of Oolacile the abyss, and he also knew that there was no cure after the mutation. The best way was to send them to their release.
Da Er's greatest strength lies in his ability to empathize; in the process of conquering the Painting World, he can feel the suffering of these mutated inhabitants.
This deepened his hatred for the Abyss. If the Abyss Lord were right in front of him, he would have charged forward to fight without hesitation.
Sensing his hostility, the monster immediately spread its arms wide in a tense manner, seemingly prepared to fight to the death.
Before the battle began, Da Er looked around the arena one last time, and a question formed in his mind.
That said, with such a large area, is there really only one monster?
Based on past experience, if a large area appears in the Zane Dungeon, it means a certain event will be triggered.
Da Er suddenly sensed a strong sense of danger, broke out in a cold sweat, and rolled backward with all his might!
"Boom!"
A Greatsword descended from the sky.
Bricks shattered, dust flew, and the monster was impaled through the chest, pinned to the ground.
When did the weapon arrive?
Da Er barely opened his eyes amidst the dust and grime, only to find that the Greatsword looked very familiar.
It seems as if "he" once wielded that Greatsword and fought battles for a long time.
It was soaked in the filthy blood of abyssal monsters. Although the sword was black, it had a faint sense of holiness, suggesting that its owner must have been a person of noble soul.
"I remember now!"
Da Er's eyes widened suddenly; he finally remembered where he had seen the Greatsword!
I saw it in a painting of Wolf Knight!
"Thump!"
A dark shadow streaked across the sky.
The figure landed nimbly beside the demon like a wolf, raised its hand to grip the sword hilt, and killed the demon completely.
"Pfft—"
Blood splattered, staining the armor of the stranger who had suddenly appeared. The silver armor was stained with blood, as if symbolizing that something sacred had been corrupted by darkness.
"Um, uh"
A painful sound came from beneath his helmet, which obscured his face, as if he were enduring immense suffering.
A purplish-black abyss gradually emerged from beneath his feet, unleashing an unstoppable torrent of violent energy that shook the entire arena.
No, it's not just the arena; this feeling is making the whole of Oolacile tremble!
What terrifying power! And without a doubt, this powerful figure has been corrupted by the abyss and is on the verge of going berserk at any moment. Or rather, the abyss has almost taken control of him.
If that's the case, then the abyssal monster from before should be considered his "comrade," so why did he still attack it?
How did he manage to survive the erosion of the abyss?
Could it be that he persevered with an iron will by focusing on eradicating the abyss, a goal that had become almost an obsession?
"Leave!" he gritted his teeth, his voice exactly the same as the Da Er had heard before.
He was on the verge of collapsing from the abyss's madness, but he still tried his best to warn the other party to leave.
"Ah."
In such a critical moment, even a fool would know to run away, but Da Er stood there dumbfounded.
He stared at the "stranger" who had appeared before him, his expression one of disbelief.
He thought a lot before entering the arena, wondering how to prolong the life of the kind man who had warned him, or how to help him find release.
They also speculated about the other party's identity, whether they were a survivor of Oolacile or some other afterimage.
But there was one thing he hadn't considered, one thing he hadn't expected: what would actually appear before him was—
Abyss Walker the Artorias!
That figure, that Greatsword, without a doubt!
But why Artorias?
Shouldn't he be fighting the Abyss Lord?
If you were to ask Da Er what he was most looking forward to when he entered the Painting World, it would definitely be meeting Artorias.
With titles such as Four Knights of Gwyn, the Abyss Walker, Sif's Friend, and the idol of the Farron Undead Legion, this Wolf Knight's status in people's hearts has been infinitely elevated.
He is also the "ancient" hero with the most information available to people besides the Undead Legion. Who wouldn't want to meet such a legend?
Da Er had hoped to fight alongside Artorias after entering the Painting World, and to experience the other's life, but the repeated deaths in the Fortress had numbed him.
Fortunately, Solaire's enthusiasm melted away his numbness. He began to feel that the purpose of this Painting World was to let him relive the Wolf Knight's journey to conquer the Abyss and experience the difficulty of the other side's conquest of the Abyss.
He thought he would never see Artorias, and at most he would experience the other's memories.
Unexpectedly, I actually met the real person here!
Da Er's expression became agitated, and he opened his mouth to speak.
What are you saying?
Modern matters? The fact that they are alive and well now means that the abyss has been suppressed, and the other party will definitely feel gratified to hear that.
The Farron Undead Legion? What kind of expression would Artorias have if he knew there was such a group of people who admired him and continued his cause?
People's admiration for him? Well, he's probably used to being respected by now, but saying these things should make him happy.
But.
When the smoke and dust that had filled the arena cleared up, and Da Er could finally see Artorias clearly, the words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.
A black aura was emerging, and Artorias's body trembled.
Something was off about the other person, very off!
His left arm hung limply, swaying with every movement, looking utterly weak, as if it were broken!
Not only his left arm, but his entire armor was covered in scars!
The monsters' bites, the claws' tears, the magical attacks, and even more so, the unnatural dents left by being beaten! These scars, under the influence of time, have merged with the mottled armor, yet they have drastically changed the knight's demeanor, making him appear desolate and tragic.
It looks like he has suffered an incurable, serious injury?
With his arm broken, armor shattered, Greatshield missing, and even his companion Sif nowhere to be found, it was hard to reconcile his appearance with the spirited Wolf Knight depicted in the painting.
These are not the main points; what is most terrifying is the abyss.
Why did the abyss appear from Artorias?
How could that be?
Da Er managed to utter a sound, and he involuntarily stepped back. Why did he retreat? Was it out of fear of the power of the abyss, or out of unwillingness to accept the reality he was witnessing?
He longed to meet a spirited Wolf Knight, listen to his teachings, and experience the ancient legends.
Why did you have to let him see this incomprehensible scene?
His hand holding the sword trembled, and the tip of the sword crashed to the ground. The shocking sound caused Artorias to lose his composure for a moment. He swung the Greatsword violently, hurling the monster's corpse toward Da Er!
Danger!
Da Er dodged to the side to avoid the monster's attack.
But the immense force slammed into the decaying walls of the arena, causing the rear of the building to collapse and completely burying his escape route.
But he had no time to think about escaping, because Artorias was charging toward him.
Leap, spin, swing sword—agile and ruthless like a wolf— Artorias performed Da Er's signature move, Wolf Leap, which he had seen countless times in his memory!
You'll die!
Seeing the Greatsword about to strike his face, Da Er's body didn't even allow him to react, and his mind barely managed to react and send out a danger signal.
He will die like this—
"Bang!"
A tremendous force suddenly struck his abdomen, Da Er was sent flying backward like a broken sandbag, crashing heavily against the wall.
"Cough cough." Blood spurted from his mouth, and he clutched his abdomen, trembling uncontrollably, but his gaze was fixed on the spot where he had been standing.
He saw clearly what had just happened.
At the last second, Artorias changed direction, not only missing his target but also kicking him away, completely keeping him away from danger, namely himself.
"Leave!" This time, Artorias drove Da Er away with an almost roaring tone.
Da Er stared blankly at the other. Ordinary people would go mad immediately if they were corrupted by the abyss, let alone such a large amount of abyss. But Artorias was able to suppress it with his will, even though it was a fragile balance that could be broken at any moment.
What incredible willpower that must be!
Da Er knew perfectly well that he should leave.
His presence not only fails to help the opponent suppress the abyss, but also adds to the chaos; even the slightest sound of the blade hitting the ground could cause things to spiral out of control.
He wanted to run, to run as far as possible, to a place where he wouldn't disturb Artorias.
But
A thick fog completely enveloped the arena. Da Er recognized it; it was the Fog Gate that appeared after entering the boss monster's room in the Zane Dungeon.
In other words, he simply cannot leave!
Looking at the Fog Gate, Da Er felt that if there were an intelligent observer in the Zane Dungeon, it would be laughing at his powerlessness right now.
His idol, corrupted by his mortal enemy, the Abyss, was in constant agony. What could be more pleasurable for a sadist than this scene?
He gritted his teeth, the pain making him even more alert, and a daring idea gradually took shape in his mind.
"I always felt like I was slow-witted, or rather, had low emotional intelligence, and was never able to help, but this time..."
Da Er, leaning on the Farron Greatsword, staggered to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with pieces of flesh and blood.
As expected of Artorias, he almost killed him with one kick. Who would dare to challenge him if they overestimated themselves?
"Hurry up." Artorias seemed to be losing control again. He was angry, angry that Da Er wasn't leaving. Was he waiting to die?
He had been waiting for someone powerful enough to eliminate the Abyss Lord.
That's why he guards this place, not only to drive away those who have strayed into this dangerous land, but also to wait for the chosen one. When that time comes, he won't have to suppress the abyss anymore and can ask that person to give him a death befitting his status.
Da Er was clearly not the person he was looking for; his strength was too low. He didn't know how Kodar managed to get through the forest by sheer luck.
The key issue is that the other party was either terrified or dumbfounded, and they still wouldn't leave despite his repeated warnings!
But when Artorias looked at Da Er again, he paused for a moment.
Because the other person adopted an unfamiliar pose.
The arm holding the sword was held horizontally, with the other hand resting on it, and the head slightly lowered.
This is the etiquette of the Farron Undead Legion, the posture of the Abyss Watchers, the highest etiquette of a group that idolizes the Abyss Walker.
Although he had never seen anything like this before, Artorias felt a strange sensation, and even the erosion from the abyss seemed less painful.
He could feel the genuine respect emanating from Da Er, just as the people had shown him when he was in Anor Londo.
Perhaps Da Er's respect went even deeper?
The opponent exuded a strong fighting spirit. Did this mean that the "dwarf" in front of him also wanted to challenge him after witnessing his strength?
"Even though I'll be laughed at, I still want to do it."
Da Er crouched down, skillfully adopting the stance of the Farron Undead Legion.
Having honed his skills with the Undead Legion and received guidance from the Sword Saint Gapar, his understanding of this swordsmanship has reached a deeper level. He can even make adjustments based on his own situation, and it is no longer just a superficial imitation.
If he were to fight Doslai Bo again at this point, even against a fully-fledged Doslai Bo, he might very well be able to defeat him.
Are these enough to defeat Artorias?
That's just wishful thinking.
However, trapped inside the Fog Gate, facing Artorias was suffering from the torment of the abyss, he was in danger of being killed by him at any moment.
Da Er didn't want to run away and die like a coward. He wanted to fight with all his might and challenge this legendary hero like a Warrior, even if it was just a futile effort.
After the initial shock, he finally understood the situation, and his eyes filled with sorrow.
It seems that the battle between Artorias and the Abyss Lord ultimately ended in victory for the Abyss.
The knight barely escaped, not only covered in wounds but also missing his companions. He could only wander here, slaughtering abyssal monsters and warning those who came after him not to set foot on this cursed land.
Reality is not a fairy tale, and justice ultimately failed to prevail.
If he could, Da Er sincerely hoped that Artorias could be freed, so he did this thing that seemed to invite ridicule.
He challenged Artorias!
Artorias motionless, making no sound and his expression unreadable, which gave Da Er time to prepare.
"Ton ton ton"
Da Er fumbled in the pouch at his waist and pulled out four vials of potion. This was his last stockpile; he hadn't even used them during the battle with the Twin Gargoyles.
[Medium Strength Enhancement], [Slash Enhancement], [Medium Constitution Enhancement], [Blood Therapy Potion].
After drinking four bottles of medicine, Da Er's muscles bulged all over his body, his clothes were stretched to their limit, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
That wasn't all; he activated several amplification-type Weapon Skill he had learned.
The [Flowing Water Stance] can increase speed, the [Imitation Slash Domain] taught by Jia Paer, and the [Demon Rampage] which greatly increases attack power for five seconds.
One flash after another appeared on his body, his physical endurance had reached its limit, but his will was stubbornly holding on.
In the very end, burn the Wolf's Blood!
"They're about to go!"
Da Er a loud shout, the Undead Legion finally unleashed their full power.
He instantly flashed to Artorias's side, and the Farron Greatsword, carrying unparalleled force, slashed towards the opponent's vitals!
Artorias seemed to have no intention of fighting, and didn't even draw his Greatsword, but instead swung it at Da Er with his still intact arm.
It was a simple strike, but it already made the opponent feel a strong threat of death.
That's the difference in numbers!
Fortunately, Artorias's attack was rather casual, which allowed Da Er to dodge it.
His combat skills, inherited from the Farron Undead Legion, made him agile. He dodged the "attacks" with a leap, flashed in front of Artorias, and swung his sword again.
The latter simply shifted his body slightly to the side and accurately dodged the attack. At that moment, the abyssal aura exploded slightly. Da Er raised his sword to resist, but his arm was directly numb from the shock!
A normal person would retreat and look for another opportunity at this point, but Da Er couldn't; he couldn't stop.
His body had reached its limit due to the massive amplification magic and Weapon Skill, and he was only holding on by sheer willpower. Even the slightest relaxation would cause a "BOOM" explosion.
He gritted his teeth and continued his street dance. This time, he leaped high into the air, using his entire body weight to propel the blade straight at Artorias!
Only then did Artorias react. Watching Da Er's series of actions, he murmured in a daze:
"Sif?"
The Farron Undead Legion's swordsmanship is inherited from the Wolf's Blood, and what is deeply ingrained in the Wolf's Blood is the image of the great wolf Sif wielding his Greatsword.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Undead Legion are imitating Sif.
Perhaps awakened by his memories, Artorias finally made a move, grabbing his Greatsword and swinging it upwards.
"Bang!"
Sparks flew, the Wolf Knight remained motionless, but Da Er was knocked to the ground once again.
He quickly got to his feet and charged at Artorias with the indomitable spirit of the Undead Legion.
The latter, however, was puzzled.
Artorias had never seen him, Sif could not have seen him either, so why were Da Er's swordsmanship and Sif's fighting style so similar?
This is definitely not a coincidence. As Sif's partner, Artorias knows everything about him. The Farron Undead Legion's fighting posture is exactly the same as Sif's, and even some small details are imitated very well!
Moreover, Sif is still young, and its fighting style is only just taking shape.
Artorias, however, discerned from Da Er's fighting stance what Sif's combat skills should look like after reaching their peak.
How could that be? Sif hasn't even mastered those technologies yet, let alone with it under the protection of my Greatshield.
Etc.
Artorias suddenly raised his head and sent Da Er flying with a single blow. Watching his opponent endure the excruciating pain to stand up, he suddenly thought of a possibility.
This land is a place where time and space are disordered, so it's not uncommon to encounter people from the past.
So, if the person he is currently encountering is from...
After being corrupted by the abyss, Artorias, in a state of mental confusion, Execute monsters there, his mind naturally filled with rage and negative emotions.
But today, he felt happier than ever before.
Why are you happy?
Because he saw hope in Da Er's swordsmanship.
Since the young man in front of them, who seemed to have entered this place by mistake due to a time-space distortion, was using swordsmanship that imitated Sif's.
Doesn't that mean that Sif left the abyss unharmed in the future, and even left behind a legacy?
Artorias also sensed a familiar aura from Da Er —the scent of Wolf's Blood, though faint, it still carried the essence of Sif.
What could be more joyful than seeing your partner safe and sound in the future?
Beyond Sif's safety, he saw something deeper.
The protective Greatshield he left behind could only protect Sif from the abyss's corruption; if he wanted to leave the abyss, the power of a single wolf was not enough.
In other words, Sif is very likely to be rescued in the future!
Who was it? Ciaran, Gough, or Ornstein? No, none of them possessed the strength to defeat the Abyss Lord.
Could it be the eldest son of the exiled king? If it is, then perhaps.
As past memories surfaced in his mind, Artorias was surprised to find that his condition had actually improved somewhat.
He knew this was only temporary, and soon he would once again be plunged into the agony of being consumed by the abyss.
But so what?
Artorias suddenly felt a peace he hadn't felt in a long time. Since someone would defeat the Abyss Lord in the future, then his efforts had not been in vain.
His choice to remain in the arena was correct; he would continue to endure the torment until the one who could kill Manus and suppress the abyss arrived.
Everything, all for the purpose of suppressing the abyss!
After many years, a group of people who share the same dream will follow in his footsteps and fight bloody battles to destroy the abyss.
Artorias Greatsword over his shoulder, struck his classic pose, and locked onto Da Er.
He could tell that the young man in front of him seemed to have special feelings for him, and was doing everything he could to relieve his pain, even at the cost of hurting himself.
Facing such a Warrior, it would be disrespectful not to give it your all.
Artorias gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, but then released it.
Using all his strength means he will be corrupted by the abyss and completely lose his mind, just like the mutated residents of Oolacile.
He cannot do that; he cannot lose his mind before waiting for the chosen one to arrive, even if doing so would relieve his mind from torment.
I'm sorry, but for the sake of his mission, he had to be rude for once.
Artorias intently at Da Er, determined to deliver a dignified end to him in the swiftest possible way.
Let's look back at Da Er's side.
He tried his best but couldn't reach Artorias's body; shame and anger made him grind his teeth to pieces.
His anger was not Artorias, but at himself; he was furious at his own weakness, that he didn't even have the power to help the hero escape.
Even if the Farron Undead Legion were here, they probably wouldn't be able to defeat the wounded Artorias.
How majestic this Wolf Knight must have been in his prime, and how terrifying the Abyss Lord must have been.
Da Er was like a Silver player who had stumbled into a battle of gods; even the aftershocks of the gods' battles could kill him.
"It can't end like this."
Da Er suddenly pounded his chest, unleashing the amplified Weapon Skill [Demon Rampage] once more with his body pushed to its limits. His body turned crimson, and blood seeped from his skin.
"Damn it, body, I command you to Flame Grant Me Strength!"
Perhaps repeatedly teetering on the edge of life and death is truly helpful for cultivation, for Da Er suddenly felt power surging within his body.
Not much, but enough for him to use one move!
He ran forward with all his might, leaped high into the air, spun around, and unleashed his final blow on Artorias.
Wolf Leap!
Put all your strength into this one strike!
"Rub--"
A flash of sword light, and blood splattered all over the ground.
"Bang"
Da Er rolled several times on the ground, his upper body still gripping the severed hilt of the Farron Greatsword tightly.
As he died, his roaring expression froze on his face; he didn't realize until his death that his body had been severed.
Artorias unharmed; Da Er was still too weak.
However, even the weak can earn his respect.
"."
Before his remaining sanity vanished, Artorias planted the broken Farron Greatsword in front of Da Er.
For Warrior, using a sword as a tombstone is also an honor.
Artorias was very grateful to Da Er, who had brought him the most precious thing in the world—
"Hope"
Hope was the reason that sustained him through the pain and kept him here.
One day in the future, the Abyss Lord will be defeated. His efforts will not be in vain. Knowing this is enough. The rest is up to time.
However...
Artorias a wry smile and thought to himself:
I really hope that the person who can defeat Manus will arrive soon.
"Well"
Intense pain surged through him once more, and before he went mad, he dragged himself into the jungle.
In the dilapidated arena, Da Er's body, cut in two, lay there silently.
But his consciousness, at this moment, saw a different scene.
That was a sequel to the memories I saw when I entered the Painting World.
In his memory, he once again became Artorias from a first-person perspective.
He saw himself giving the Silver Necklace to the survivors, protecting them from the abyss.
The next instant, the scene shifted to the abyss, where a torrent of black magic attacked him relentlessly. Without the Silver Necklace, he could only rely on his shield to defend himself.
He saw that "himself" had failed in his challenge against the Abyss Lord, but still did not see the other's appearance. He was forced to retreat with his broken body, his heart filled with resentment.
He saw his companion, Sif, who was still a wolf cub and unable to walk due to his injuries. Helpless, he left behind a protective Greatshield to shelter Sif in the abyss.
At this point, he had lost all means to resist the abyss.
The abyss gradually eroded his mind. He felt pain and his spirit was tormented. Demons swarmed up, wanting to take advantage of his injuries to kill him.
In his madness, he Execute monsters all the way to this arena, where he guarded the path to Oolacile.
In his mental derangement, he saw many things.
His lover, his best friend, his companion, and his most respected King Gwyn.
"We must not let the abyss spread!"
This was the last thing Da Er heard before he was kicked out of the Painting World.
This is what Artorias said.
Unlike his roar, he spoke these words with great vigor, likely a vow he made before Oolacile.
Its voice is very pleasant, magnetic, and full of charisma; its owner must be a handsome man.
In the instant before his consciousness faded, Da Er grinned, his eyes glazed, and said:
"That sword strike was really cool, Artorias."
After an unknown amount of time, Da Er gradually regained consciousness, and he vaguely felt someone calling his name.
"Da Er, Da Er?"
"Wake up!"
He sat up abruptly, only to bump right into the gray wolf that was staring at him.
The latter ran away, whimpering.
Da Er's eyes were still filled with confusion, and he didn't react to the outside world until someone pried open his mouth and poured a bottle of high-grade medicine with a calming effect into his mouth, at which point he regained some of his senses.
Looking around, he saw that he was surrounded by people, all of whom were familiar faces.
Besides the members of the Farron Exploration Team, even the Strategy Team and the New Strategy Team were here. He also saw Luo Jieer, who had given him the potion earlier.
Why is everyone surrounding me? It feels a bit like a funeral.
"What's wrong?" Da Er rubbed his head, feeling extremely tired.
"Da Er!" A girl from the Exploration Team threw herself into his arms, exclaiming, "Thank goodness you're alright! Everyone was so worried!"
Da Er stiffened for a moment, then said helplessly, "I'm perfectly fine."
"Are you alright?"
The girl looked up and said, "Do you know how many days you've been missing?"
A few days?
Da Er suddenly realized something and asked, "How many days did I spend inside?"
"Three whole days! You stayed in the dungeon for three days before coming out!"
Seeing that the girl was a little agitated, a green light flashed above her head, and the girl immediately saw through the illusions of the world and stopped caring about worldly matters.
Delu withdrew his hand from the Tranquilizing Spell, and as he carried the girl away, he explained to Da Er:
"You disappeared after entering the dungeon; the guild even posted a missing person notice for you."
"Two hours ago, someone found you unconscious near the portal. You were still clutching the painting in your hand, so everyone brought you back. Oh, right, you were also holding this in your hand."
He placed a ring in Da Er's palm.
[Wolf Ring Replica]
[Actively stimulated, significantly enhancing the body's resilience; a tenacious physique and will can never be broken by attacks.]
The Wolf Ring was the ring worn by Artorias Abyss Walker, and the wolf was also his symbol.
Artorias possessed an unwavering will and never retreated in the face of any danger. It is said that when he wielded his Greatsword, he was invincible.
[Number of uses: 10]
Da Er stared at the ring, lost in thought, when Delu asked again:
What exactly have you been through these past few days?
Upon hearing this, Da Er's eyes revealed a complex emotion, and he said softly:
"I experienced a legendary adventure."
Then, a story about Wolf Knight upheld his mission was told through his words.
I was planning to post two chapters, but after writing them, I couldn't get the hang of it, so I decided to combine today's second update with the bonus chapter!
We are of one mind!